No clear signal how QB class will shake out

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April 14, 2013
: Updated: April 14, 2013 11:56pm

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Top prospects

Geno Smith 6-3, 218, 4.56 (seconds in 40-yard dash), West Virginia: The best prospect at his position has size, speed and starting experience. Threw 42 touchdown passes and only six interceptions last season while completing 71.2 percent. Gets rid of the ball fast. Accurate on short and intermediate routs. Played in the shotgun, so must work on direct snaps. Must improve overall mechanics. Needs to develop touch on the deep ball. Should go in the top half of the first round.

Matt Barkley, 6-2, 227, 4.93, USC: If he had come out after his junior year, he would have been a top-10 pick. Now some think he might not go in the first round. Has experience in a pro-style offense. Confident in pocket. Makes good decisions. Goes through progressions. Throws well sliding to right or left. Isn't much of a threat to gain yards running. Needs to improve on his deep ball. Could be the second quarterback taken or could fall out of the first round.

E.J. Manuel, 6-5, 237, 4.59, Florida State: Improved his stock in the postseason. Terrific size and good speed. Compiled a 25-6 record as a starter. Intelligent player who excelled in the classroom. Good team leader. Impressive release and throws a tight spiral. There's not a throw he can't make. A tough player who'll run over defenders. He could go in the first round but might last until the second.

Ryan Nassib, 6-2, 227, 4.95, Syracuse: Three-year starter who throws a tight spiral. Has good enough arm strength to fire ball into tight situations. Highly intelligent player who's a team leader. Excelled in come-from-behind situations. Accurate on the move. Works hard to improve. Needs to protect ball better in the pocket. Must get better at reads and not forcing throws. Needs to become more consistent. Should go high in the second round.

Sleeper

Zac Dysert, 6-3, 227, 4.83, Miami (Ohio): Dynamic team leader and three-time team captain. He broke Ben Roethlisberger's career passing record despite playing for three head coaches and five quarterback coaches. Smooth, quick release with nice touch on deep routes. Must improve some mechanics and become more consistent. Should go in the fourth or fifth round.

Best of the rest

Mike Glennon, 6-7, 22-5, North Carolina State

Landry Jones, 6-4, 225, Oklahoma

Tyler Wilson, 6-2, 215, Arkansas

Tyler Bray, 6-6, 232, Tennessee

Mike Scott, 6-2, 215, Arizona

Jeff Tuel, 6-3, 218, Washington State

Ryan Griffin, 6-4, 227, Tulane

Colby Cameron, 6-2, 212, Louisiana Tech

Sean Renfree, 6-3, 219, Duke

Quick thoughts

Collin Klein (6-5, 226) of Kansas State led the Wildcats to the No. 1 ranking in the country at one point last season but is viewed more as an H-back prospect than a QB.

Jordan Rodgers (6-2, 202) of Vanderbilt is the younger brother of Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers. He should be a low-round pick.

Brad Sorensen (6-5, 229) of Southern Utah was a walk-on at BYU and served a two-year mission before transferring and starting for three seasons.

With the draft coming at the end of the month, Houston Chronicle NFL writer John McClain breaks down the top quarterback prospects:

Top prospects

Geno Smith 6-3, 218, 4.56 (seconds in 40-yard dash), West Virginia: The best prospect at his position has size, speed and starting experience. Threw 42 touchdown passes and only six interceptions last season while completing 71.2 percent. Gets rid of the ball fast. Accurate on short and intermediate routs. Played in the shotgun, so must work on direct snaps. Must improve overall mechanics. Needs to develop touch on the deep ball. Should go in the top half of the first round.

Matt Barkley, 6-2, 227, 4.93, USC: If he had come out after his junior year, he would have been a top-10 pick. Now some think he might not go in the first round. Has experience in a pro-style offense. Confident in pocket. Makes good decisions. Goes through progressions. Throws well sliding to right or left. Isn't much of a threat to gain yards running. Needs to improve on his deep ball. Could be the second quarterback taken or could fall out of the first round.

E.J. Manuel, 6-5, 237, 4.59, Florida State: Improved his stock in the postseason. Terrific size and good speed. Compiled a 25-6 record as a starter. Intelligent player who excelled in the classroom. Good team leader. Impressive release and throws a tight spiral. There's not a throw he can't make. A tough player who'll run over defenders. He could go in the first round but might last until the second.

Ryan Nassib, 6-2, 227, 4.95, Syracuse: Three-year starter who throws a tight spiral. Has good enough arm strength to fire ball into tight situations. Highly intelligent player who's a team leader. Excelled in come-from-%behind situations. Accurate on the move. Works hard to improve. Needs to protect ball better in the pocket. Must get better at reads and not forcing throws. Needs to become more consistent. Should go high in the second round.

Sleeper

Zac Dysert, 6-3, 227, 4.83, Miami (Ohio): Dynamic team leader and three-time team captain. He broke Ben Roethlisberger's career passing record despite playing for three head coaches and five quarterback coaches. Smooth, quick release with nice touch on deep routes. Must improve some mechanics and become more consistent. Should go in the fourth or fifth round.

Best of the rest

Mike Glennon, 6-7, 22-5, North Carolina State

Landry Jones, 6-4, 225, Oklahoma

Tyler Wilson, 6-2, 215, Arkansas

Tyler Bray, 6-6, 232, Tennessee

Mike Scott, 6-2, 215, Arizona

Jeff Tuel, 6-3, 218, Washington State

Ryan Griffin, 6-4, 227, Tulane

Colby Cameron, 6-2, 212, Louisiana Tech

Sean Renfree, 6-3, 219, Duke

Quick thoughts

Collin Klein (6-5, 226) of Kansas State led the Wildcats to the No. 1 ranking in the country at one point last season but is viewed more as an H-back prospect than a QB.

Jordan Rodgers (6-2, 202) of Vanderbilt is the younger brother of Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers. He should be a low-round pick.

Brad Sorensen (6-5, 229) of Southern Utah was a walk-on at BYU and served a two-year mission before transferring and starting for three seasons.